Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm I, koning van Pruisen 1713 - 1733

Curator: Standing here before us is a baroque engraving from the Rijksmuseum, a "Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm I, koning van Pruisen", dating sometime between 1713 and 1733, by Martin Bernigeroth. Quite a mouthful, isn't it? Editor: It is, and instantly, I see power. Stately and unflinching. Even though it's black and white, I feel like there's some mood and drama. Curator: Power is definitely part of the symbolic package. The meticulous lines of the engraving almost feel like they’re mapping the very contours of authority, the sharp etched face. Let's not overlook all that ermine. It reminds you that a portrait is not only about the person, but the accoutrements. Editor: Exactly! Consider the crown. Positioned like a halo. It evokes divine right but also speaks of aspiration. The wreath around the oval feels almost like an attempt to tame that wild, baroque exuberance. Curator: Interesting. I see the crown as sort of… aspirational excess. What does it *mean*, really? A wreath implies victory. Yet, that's only one meaning. He *is* victory; and at the same time, the victory wreath is just part of what signifies him to the rest of the world. Like a symbolic echo. I wonder, who was the image made for? Editor: Well, the inscription at the bottom provides some clues, hinting perhaps at dedications, underlining, really hammering home the King’s virtues and accomplishments for prosperity to read, digest, and continue to celebrate. Think how many times images of kings have appeared this way, and will still do. Curator: Yes, in order to carry on, in the symbolic chain, right down the road. This is where cultural memory resides. Editor: A snapshot, of who people believe this was. Curator: I can’t think about power right now. Editor: You need a portrait that represents who they are. I was expecting, it's not just that.